Harlem Building To Be Torn Down After Recent Fires, City Says

HARLEM, NY — A Harlem building devastated by two fires in five months will be demolished, the city announced Wednesday.

The one-story commercial space at 480 Lenox Ave. between West 133rd and West 134th streets will be torn down after flames erupted Sunday and left it in a state of collapse, the Buildings department said.

The building has been boarded up since a massive blaze ravaged a row of businesses on Nov. 3, 2021.

Investigators from the DOB ended up ordering the building to be demolished "in the interest of public safety."

On Sunday, DOB investigated the structural stability of an empty commercial building in Central Harlem damaged by a fire. The building was boarded up due to a previous fire that occurred in 2021. In the interest of public safety, DOB ordered the building to be demolished. pic.twitter.com/ZUVw4uHDWe
— NYC Buildings (@NYC_Buildings) March 23, 2022

The block was the former home the Lenox Terrace management office, the clothing store Sesinko, Lenox Fish Market, the former Paragon Department Store, and the popular Manna's soul food restaurant.

"We don't have no store right now," Manna's co-owner Ian Park told Patch at the time.

Most of the damage to Manna's was caused by firefighters breaking down walls in an effort to stop the blaze, Park said he was told.

The most recent flames Sunday caused severe damage to the roof, which caused a collapse, the DOB told Patch.

The fire this weekend also damaged the building's walls, rendering them unusable.

There is no schedule yet for the demolition, as the building's owner has to respond to the request for demolition from the DOB.

However, if the owner chooses not to comply, city contractors will be brought in to do the work.

Read More:

• Huge Harlem Fire Devastates Row Of Businesses
• 3-Alarm Fire Reported At Vacant Harlem Commercial Building